TO ROTHA Q——
Composed 1827.—Published 1827
[Rotha, the daughter of my son-in-law, Mr. Quillinan.—I. F.]
Rotha, my Spiritual Child! this head was grey
When at the sacred font for thee I stood;
Pledged till thou reach the verge of womanhood,
And shalt become thy own sufficient stay:
Too late, I feel, sweet Orphan, was the day 5
For stedfast hope the contract to fulfil;
Yet shall my blessing hover o'er thee still,
Embodied in the music of this Lay,
Breathed forth beside the peaceful mountain Stream[488]
Whose murmur soothed thy languid Mother's ear 10
After her throes, this Stream of name more dear
Since thou dost bear it,—a memorial theme[489]
For others; for thy future self, a spell
To summon fancies out of Time's dark cell.[490]
FOOTNOTES:
[488] The river Rotha, which flows into Windermere from the lakes of Grasmere and Rydal.—Ed.
[489] 1827.
... whose name is thine to bear
Hanging around thee a memorial theme MS.
[490] Compare the poem on the Borrowdale Yew Trees.—Ed.